Top U.S. Diplomat Says Afghan Forces Taking Security Control

Deputy Secretary of State William Burns says the United States expects that Afghan forces will lead all combat operations in Afghanistan before the end of this year.

Speaking May 11 on a visit to Kabul, Burns said Afghan forces are already in the lead in 90 percent of all combat operations against militants.

He said the plan remains on track to fully transfer all security responsibilities to Afghan forces by the end of 2014, when all international combat forces are expected to have withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Burns met with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul for the second meeting of the Afghanistan-U.S. Bilateral Commission, which was established in the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed by Presidents Hamid Karzai and Barack Obama one year ago.